Paper pick with mechanical reference

ABSTRACT

A picking mechanism may include a mechanical reference system for establishing the approximate number of sheets that will be “picked” from a larger stack each time the picking process occurs. A pick moves toward the stack of paper to insert itself between two sheets of paper at a level in the stack that is determined by the place the pick resides relative to the stack. In the preferred embodiment, the pick resides at said position because it is positioned at a adjustably fixed relationship to a reference member and the reference member rests on the top of the stack of paper when the pick is in a retracted position. Thus, the vertical distance between the reference member (and the top of the stack) and the point (edge) of the pick determines how many sheets will be picked at a time. Once the picking occurs, the user may easily grasp and remove the picked stack for further handling, and, with preferably with a “flick” of the handle or a quick holding of the handle in a position that retracts the pick from the vicinity of the stack, the picking unit is free to move/slide down toward the new, shorter stack so that the reference member again rests on top of the stack, and the process may start all over again.

This application claims priority of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/841,626, filed Oct. 14, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporation herein by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device for picking a number of sheets of paper or other sheet media, so that a user may easily grasp the picked set for further handling. This invention may be used to pick sets of sheets for the user to move to a punching and/or binding machine, for example, in an office setting, bindery, print shop, or setting wherein sets of generally the same number of sheets are desired for further handling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises a device, and methods for using the device, having a picking mechanism that includes a mechanical reference system for establishing the approximate number of sheets that will be “picked” each time the picking process occurs. The picking system may include a pick that moves inward toward the stack of paper to insert itself between two sheets of paper at a level in the stack that is determined by the place the pick resides relative to the stack. In the preferred embodiment, the pick resides at said position because it is positioned at a temporarily fixed relationship to a reference member, wherein the reference member rests on the top of the stack of paper. Thus, the vertical distance between the reference member (and, thus, the top of the stack) and the point (or inserted edge) of the pick determines how many sheets will be picked at a time. Once the picking occurs, the user may easily grasp and remove the picked stack for further handling, and the picking unit moves/slides down toward the new, shorter stack so that the reference member again rests on top of the stack, and the process may start all over again.

The vertical distance between the reference member and the pick may be adjusted, for picking a different thickness (different number of sheets), and this may be done in the preferred embodiment, for example, by a spring-loaded threaded adjustment shaft, at the bottom of which is the reference member.

The preferred embodiment is manual, but automated or semi-automated devices may use some or all the features of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one, but not the only, embodiment of the invented device, shown without a stack of paper and with one, but not the only, embodiment of a paper stack stop near the left end of the device.

FIG. 2 is a close-up perspective view of the picking mechanism of the embodiment of FIG. 1 (without showing any paper), with the pick in the fully-extending position and with the picking mechanism raised and latched in place so that it is out of the way for placement of a large stack of paper on the device.

FIG. 3 is a close-up perspective view of the picking mechanism of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 (still without showing any paper), with the pick being retracted. In this view, the picking mechanism is still raised and latched in place.

FIGS. 4A, B, and C are top, front, and end views of an alternative embodiment of the invented picking device (12′), featuring the paper stack stop of FIGS. 14 and 15.

FIG. 5 is a front view of preferred, but not the only, embodiments of the picking and reference mechanisms vertically separated, illustrating how the horizontal plane on which the bottom surface of the reference mechanism (which, in normal operation, rests on the top of the stack of paper) is above the horizontal plane of the point of the pick that first inserts itself into the stack. This difference in planes determines how many sheets (the thickness of the picked stack) are picked and lifted up on top of the pick for grasping and removal by the user.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are a front perspective front view, a front view, and a side views, respectively of one, but not the only, embodiment of pick for use with the embodiments of the device shown in FIGS. 1-5.

FIGS. 9-12 illustrate sequential steps of the preferred embodiment of the picking device, carrying out the preferred steps of the picking method.

FIG. 13 illustrates how one embodiment of a paper stack stop may be moved (slid and rotated) on the device to assist in proper placement of a stack of shorted sheets, and also how one embodiment of a swing out table (T) that may be added to the device, for example, for unusual sizes of paper/media.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are a perspective view and a top view of a preferred, but not the only, embodiment of a paper stack stop with a corner retainer, which may be used, for example, at the left side of the paper stack on the devices in the drawings in place of the simpler paper stack stop shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, there are shown several, but not the only, embodiments of the invented picking system with mechanical reference for establishing picked stack size.

The picking unit 10 may be installed on a stand-alone device 12, or may be installed on other equipment, for example, on a paper punch machine or other cutting, photocopying, punching, binding, crimping, or other office equipment.

The picking unit 10 slides up and down the vertical posts 14, 15, 16, and may be held in place in an upward position for placement of a stack on the platform 18, for example, by a latch 20 (with handle 21) releasably holding a hook 22. The picking unit 10 is shown in the raised, latched position in FIGS. 1-5.

A stack of paper P is placed on the platform 18, against the moveable guide G (adjustable for paper width) and stops S, S′ (S being adjustable for paper length). The pick 50 is moveable toward the stack of paper P, and is biased to stay in the extended (toward the paper) position illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4A-C. Handle 60 may be pushed backward by the user, as illustrated by FIG. 3, to retract the pick 50 against the bias (created by a spring or other bias member in the picking unit 10) to move into the retracted position. The fully retracted position is shown FIG. 11.

The reference member 55 has bottom, reference surface 56 that rests on the top of the stack of paper P when the picking unit 10 is unlatched and allowed to slide down until the reference surface 56 hits the stack. This typically happens when the user has removed the picked paper and has flipped the handle backwards, retracting the pick (which after picking the set of sheets is now on the top of the newly-shorted stack) and, with the pick out of the way, the picking unit may slide down until the reference surface 56 is not the lowermost portion exposed (in a position to hit the paper stack top) and so it controls the distance the picking unit slides. Now, the handle is released and the bias extends the pick 10 again to slide/insert into the stack. This may happen very quickly, and the user need keep his/her hand on the handle only for a short time, for example, a second or less in some embodiments, as the picking unit 10 slides down.

As shown to best advantage in FIGS. 2 and 5, the reference member 55 is mounted on a threaded shaft 62 having a knob 63 for screwing the reference member 55 up and down in its mount 64 to raise and lower the reference member and its reference surface 56. A spring 66 or other bias is provided to ensure that, once adjustment-has been made, that the reference member 55 will stay in place at the selected, adjusted level and will not tend to move with vibration or movement of other parts of the machine.

As shown to best advantage in FIGS. 2 and 5-8, the pick 50 preferably has a generally pointed tip 70, which is sharp enough to insert itself fairly accurately, but not so sharp that is tends to hurt the user or other personnel. Above the tip 70 is an upwardly slanted surface 71 that raises the picked set of sheets as the pick 50 slides into the stack of paper P, to raise that corner of the picked set of sheets PS of the set (see FIG. 12) so that the user may easily see, and grasp, the picked set corner to lift and remove the picket set.

Note also in FIGS. 2, and 5-8 that the preferred pick 50 also has a slanted bottom end surface 72, which preferably is slanted at a different angle compared to surface 71. Preferably, surface 72 is closer to horizontal (when the pick is in use generally horizontally, with the length of the pick 50 horizontal), so that surface 72 tends to abut against the remainder of the stack not being picked, but without pushing any of the un-picked sheets horizontally. This surface 72, therefore, begins to hold down the remainder (the un-picked portion) of the stack early in the insertion of the pick 50 into the stack, so that the un-picked sheets near the pick 50 do not slide to become misaligned with the rest of the un-picked stack. Because the tip 70 of the pick 50 will determine where(between what sheets) the pick is inserted, the pick's upper slanted surface 71 and its bottom slanted surface 72 will generally simultaneously push down on the remaining sheets and push up on the picked sheets. At the location of the fully-extended pick in the stack of paper, the picked sheets will be lifted above the plane of the tip 70 and the un-picked sheets near the top of the un-picked stack will be pushed down, but, because the preferred picking unit 10 is slidable on the posts 14 m 15 and 16, the picking unit may tend to itself raise up slightly while the pick is being inserted (especially if the full-diameter of the pick, as shown at bottom surface 172 reaches inside the stack), thus preferably preventing the pick 50 from causing a significant indentation in the un-picked stack in the vicinity of the pick 50.

In preferred embodiments, slanted surface 71 is in a range of about 30-45 degrees from horizontal, and, more preferably, in a range of 35-41 degrees from horizontal (angled preferably 35-41 degrees from the longitudinal plane of the pick extending through the tip 70). The bottom slanted surface is preferably about 5-15 degrees from horizontal, and, more preferably, in the range of 5-10 degrees, and most preferably, 6-8 degrees from horizontal (angled preferably 6-8 degrees from the longitudinal plane of the pick extending through the tip 70). Also, in some embodiments, the bottom surface 172 that has been described above as a full-diameter portion of the pick, may be slightly slanted for about ⅓ to ½ of the length of the pick, for example; this slight slanting is preferably in the range of only 2-5 degrees from horizontal, and more preferably about 2 degrees from horizontal (angled preferably about 2 degrees from the longitudinal plane of the pick extending through the tip 70).

FIG. 5 illustrates to best advantage how the vertical distance V between the horizontal plane of the reference surface 56 and the horizontal plane of the tip 70 of the pick 50 serves to select the thickness of the picked set of sheets from the stack (the thickness of the picked set of sheets being approximately equal to said vertical distance). Note that surface 56 may be adjusted up or down relative to the pick and its tip 70, to control said vertical distance and, hence, to control the amount of sheets picked with each stab-in of the pick. Therefore, the vertical distance V between the reference member and the pick may be adjusted, for picking a different thickness (different number of sheets), and this may be done in the preferred embodiment by a spring-loaded threaded adjustment shaft or other systems for moving the bottom of the reference member up or down relative to the pick.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrates the entire structure of the preferred pick 50, which may be operatively connected via slot 80 and hole 82 to a lever system in picking unit 10, for example.

FIGS. 9-12 illustrate the preferred device in use with a stack of paper P (in dashed lines). In FIG. 9, the stack P has been placed on the platform 18, while the picking unit 10 is still raised and latched in place. The reference surface 56 has been adjusted up or down relative to the tip 70 of the pick 50 to predetermine the approximate number of sheets that will be picked. This approximate number of sheets correlating to the vertical distance (V in FIG. 5 for example) may be learned quickly by the user by trial and error or may be provided in a start-up manual, for example.

In FIG. 10, the picking unit 10 has been unlatched and has fallen to the stack P so that the bottom surface 172 of the pick rests on the top of the stack P, and the reference surface 56 is above the stack P.

In FIG. 11, the handle has been pushed-back manually, which retracts the pick 50, and the picking unit falls an additional distance vertically downward until the reference surface 56 rests upon the stack P and stops further falling of the picking unit 10. Note that, now the horizontal plane of the pick tip 70 is actually part way down into the stack, but that the retracted pick is not yet stabbed into the stack.

In FIG. 12, the handle has been released, and the bias of the pick system has pushed the pick 50 toward the stack to an extend that the pick inserts itself into the stack of paper. In doing so, because the pick, and especially its tip 70 is lower than the top of the stack, the pick separate a relatively small stack of the sheets form the remainder and lifts them up (holding sheets directly below the pick down) as discussed above in this document. Thus, the picking process has delivered a lifted corner of a sub-stack of the larger stack, and that lifted corner may easily be grasped to remove the sub-stack. Upon removal of the stack, one may see that the pick is on the top of the remaining stack, handle may be pushed back again, and the process starts again. This may be done until the entire stack, or at least the entire stack except for a couple sheets, has been picked in approximately equal sub-stacks. Thus, with a simple mechanical system, multiple stacks of sheets may be efficiently and accurately picked, without the need for electronics, light or electronic sensors, or other complex structure or control. Therefore, the preferred embodiment is manual, but, alternatively, automated or semi-automated devices may use some or all the features of the invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a stop S having been slid far to the right for smaller paper, and a swing-out tray T extending to hold an unusual shape of paper, for example.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrates a particularly-preferred paper stop system 90. This system 90 has an upending stop post 91 that is moveable by adjustment of the position of base 92 on the platform (18) via knob 93 and a slot in the platform (see FIG. 13). A slot 94 in the base 92 further provides for excellent adjustability. In addition, a corner-retainer 95 is provided that is adjustably and lockably slidable relative to the base 92 via knob 96. This corner-retainer 95 comprises a generally L-shaped end 97 that may be placed at/around the left, front corner of a stack of paper P on the platform 18. This end 97 helps retain the stack P in proper position on the platform, and, especially when the remaining stack becomes short (few sheets) due to the picking process being almost done, this end 97 tends to control the remaining stack and prevent it from rotating, sliding, or shifting on the platform and, hence, it tends to keep the picking process effective and generally accurate until all or nearly all of the sheets (for example, all but about 5 sheets) have been picked.

Although this invention has been described above with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the scope of broad scope of the following claims. 

1. A paper picking mechanism comprising: a picking unit that is slidable up and down relative to a stack of paper to be picked into multiple sub-stacks of paper; a pick provided on the picking unit, wherein the pick is moveable into a retracted position distanced form the stack of paper, and extendable toward the stack of paper into an extended position, wherein the pick in the extended position has a tip that pushes into the stack of paper at a location in the stack of paper to separate and lift a sub-stack from the remaining paper; wherein the location of the tip and the thickness of the sub-stack are determined by a vertical distance between the tip of the pick and a reference surface, said reference surface provided to a side of the pick and adjustable to different elevations above the pick tip; wherein, when the pick is retracted, the picking unit falls down toward the top of the stack of the paper until the reference surface impacts the top of the stack of paper, and wherein, upon the pick moving toward the stack into the extended position, the pick inserts itself at said location in the stack to separate and lift said sub-stack.
 2. A picking mechanism as in claim 1, wherein the pick has a slanted top surface extending upward and rearward from the tip, said slanted top surface being at an angle of 30-45 degrees from horizontal.
 3. A picking mechanism as in claim 1, wherein the pick has a slanted bottom surface extending downward and rearward from the tip, said slanted bottom surface being at an angle of 5-10 degrees from horizontal.
 4. A picking mechanism as in claim 1, wherein pick is biased to remain in the extended position until a handle connected to the pick is pushed rearward relative to the stack of paper.
 5. A picking mechanism as in claim 4, further comprising an additional slanted surface on a bottom side of the pick that is rearward from said bottom slanted surface, said additional slanted surface being slanted about 2 degrees from horizontal. 